Dems, correct course on public ed
There may not be many things voters across the country have in common, but there is one thing: frustration. For Democratic hopefuls going into the midterm elections, the ability to tangibly address these feelings will be the difference between victory and defeat.
While the thinning of wallets due to inflation has emerged as a primary worry in recent weeks, there is still tremendous concern over the ways in which the pandemic has impacted our nation’s young people — and what it means for their futures.
After more than two years of disruptions to learning, terrible and continuous loss and uncertainty, and extended social isolation, it’s no wonder that the pandemic has hurt our children’s mental health. Data from the worst of the pandemic showed emergency room visits for suicide attempts increased a heartbreaking 50% for teenage girls and 3.7% for boys, compared to the same period in 2019.
Likewise, parents and families, many of whom faced extraordinary burdens during the pandemic, are also struggling. Families are deeply concerned about their children’s social, emotional, and academic well-being — noting their fears of everything from teacher shortages to a lack of books.
All of these very valid and troubling issues mean that writing a check — like the massive one Democrats secured through the American Rescue Plan Act — won’t be enough to assuage voter frustrations if families don’t see the money helping kids.
Nationally, trust in Democrats on education has taken a steep hit, dropping a whopping 12 percentage points in the last year, despite the increased funding for K-12 and higher education. This was perfectly illustrated in last November’s Virginia gubernatorial election, where Democrats ceded ground on education because members of our party ignored parents’ worries and doubled down on the status quo.
Polling from my organization, Democrats for Education Reform, and Impact Research showed that of Virginia voters who ranked education as a priority, a colossal 70% voted for Republican Glenn Youngkin, who won. Our polling indicates that, while critical race theory energized Republicans, it does very little to move Independent voters, and is all but powerless with Democrats. Similarly, the results illustrated previous attacks on Democrats regarding school closures can be poignant, but ultimately, the most impactful messaging across all demographics — and powerfully utilized by Youngkin — was simple: Heed what parents are saying and invest in schools and teacher pay, and push for greater accountability for schools.
Yet Democrats don’t seem to be taking this to heart, as evidenced by contrasting party messaging in response to Virginia’s recent report on academic achievement. While Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw, a Democrat, said, “To accuse Virginia’s education system of failure is an outright lie, supported by cherry-picked data and warped perspective,” Youngkin in turn called for increased investments to address gaps in student performance — something parents want.
Of course, rebuilding trust with voters goes further than simply saying the right things. After all, Youngkin’s big promise to invest in teachers has so far amounted to policing teachers’ actions, rather than supporting them.
For Democrats to reclaim our prominence as the party of public education and rebuild trust among voters, we must show voters that we hear them through our actions. State and local leaders must not only prioritize resources, but allocate them equitably and pair them with innovative, evidence-driven approaches to accelerate learning.
Of the $128 billion in American Rescue Plan funds Democrats earmarked for K-12 education, $29.4 billion is to help students recover from missed learning time due to COVID. That means investing in proven strategies like high-impact tutoring where students get consistent, small-group instruction, or summer programs from high-quality educators and enrichment activities to reengage students. These programs will not only help students recover instructional time, they also hold promise for helping narrow persistent opportunity gaps for historically underserved students.
As a bonus, they’re extremely popular: 79% of voters support directing federal dollars to high-impact tutoring, To date, roughly 20 states have plans for high-impact tutoring, with multiple models available for remaining states to consult
Beyond academic support, the funds can — and in many states, are — being used to hire additional educators, counselors, and psychologists, provide wrap-around services for students or targeted professional development for educators. Furthermore, these funds can be used for building partnerships between district and community-based organizations to provide full and year-round academic, social, emotional, and mental health supports for students and families.
As a party, we must show empathy for families and students and the hardships they’ve faced, while also showing them a better path forward. The opportunity is clear, but it’s also fleeting. It’s therefore up to my fellow Democrats on whether we choose to meet this moment and lead with real actions or choose to surrender to defeat.
Jeffries is the national president of Democrats for Education Reform.